The Role of Competitive Intelligence in Enhancing Organizational Performance in the Sports Industry
PDF

Keywords

Competitive Intelligence
Sports Organizations
AI in Sports, Data Analytics
Fan Engagement
Player Recruitment
Revenue Growth
Systematic Analysis

How to Cite

Ling, W. (2026). The Role of Competitive Intelligence in Enhancing Organizational Performance in the Sports Industry. Journal of Sustainable Competitive Intelligence , 16, e0637. https://doi.org/10.37497/eagleSustainable.v16i.637

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the role that Competitive Intelligence (CI) has played in supporting the performance of sports organizations. The use of CI tools, such as AI, predictive analytics, and big data, in recruiting players, improving fan experience, and revenue growth.

Methodology/approach: The research is grounded in a mixed-methods approach, incorporating quantitative data (a survey of 120 sports professionals) and qualitative data (18 semi-structured interviews with CI professionals and sports managers). The correlation between CI use and revenue growth was determined through regression and Pearson correlation, and a strong correlation was found between CI in player recruitment and revenue growth (r = 0.82).

Originality/Relevance: The study presents the paradigm shift in CI in sports organizations. CI is increasingly becoming a key instrument for competitive advantage, as the uptake of data-driven decision-making has improved on-field performance and off-field financial performance. 

Key Findings: The paper concludes that CI tools can contribute to the enhancement of player recruitment and fan engagement in particular, and both directions indicate a strong positive effect on the growth rate of the revenues. 

Theoretical/Methodological Contributions: The given paper offers an in-depth review of the existing knowledge on CI in sports organizations. It adds to the body of literature on sports management by combining CI tools with organizational performance measures to provide a comprehensive framework for future studies on the implementation and effects of CI in sports.

https://doi.org/10.37497/eagleSustainable.v16i.637
PDF

References

Akram, H., Khan, A. U., Naveed, F., & Khalid, A. (2022). The role of athletic knowledge management in obtaining a competitive advantage in the sports work environment. Jurnal Aplikasi Manajemen, Ekonomi dan Bisnis, 7(1), 33–42. https://doi.org/10.51263/jameb.v7i1.152

Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108

Byrne, D. (2022). A worked example of Braun and Clarke’s approach to reflexive thematic analysis. Quality & Quantity, 56(3), 1391–1412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-021-01182-y

Calof, J. L., & Wright, S. (2008). Competitive intelligence: A practitioner, academic and inter-disciplinary perspective. European Journal of Marketing, 42(7/8), 717–730. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090560810877114

Christodoulou, A., & Cullinane, K. (2019). Identifying the main opportunities and challenges from the implementation of a port energy management system: A SWOT/PESTLE analysis. Sustainability, 11(21), 6046. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11216046

Corona, R. (2025). The application of artificial intelligence metrics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Scientia Moralitas: International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 10(1), 312–354.

Cronk, B. C. (2016). How to use IBM SPSS statistics: A step-by-step guide to analysis and interpretation. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315266428

Davenport, T. H. (2014). Analytics in sports: The new science of winning. International Institute for Analytics.

Dishman, P. L., & Calof, J. L. (2008). Competitive intelligence: A multiphasic precedent to marketing strategy. European Journal of Marketing, 42(7/8), 766–785. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090560810877141

Dufera, A. G., Liu, T., & Xu, J. (2023). Regression models of Pearson correlation coefficient. Statistical Theory and Related Fields, 7(2), 97–106. https://doi.org/10.1080/24754269.2023.2164970

Fannon, S. R., Munive-Hernandez, J. E., & Campean, F. (2022). Mastering continuous improvement (CI): The roles and competences of mid-level management and their impact on the organisation’s CI capability. The TQM Journal, 34(1), 102–124. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-03-2021-0083

Field, A. (2024). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics. Sage Publications. https://books.google.com.pk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=83L2EAAAQBAJ&oi

FIFA. (2023). AI and its application in football: The future of player performance analysis. https://www.fifa.com

Gába, A., Hartwig, T. B., Jašková, P., Sanders, T., Dygrýn, J., Vencálek, O., & Lonsdale, C. (2025). Reallocating time between 24-h movement behaviors for obesity management across the lifespan. Sports Medicine, 55(3), 641–654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02148-4

Guedri, A. (2023). The role of competitive intelligence in achieving participatory management within sports organizations. Business & Management Studies: An International Journal, 11(4), 1386–1409.

Hung, Y. L., Jiang, K. L., Chen, Y. L., & Chang, C. W. (2026). Development of an AI-driven comprehensive performance index for selecting the basketball annual first team. Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219519426400440

Jeyanthi, P. M., Cvetkoska, V., & Kitanovikj, B. (2024). Decision intelligence in sports marketing. In Sports analytics: Data-driven sports and decision intelligence (pp. 35–53). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-63573-1_3

Laursen, G. H., & Thorlund, J. (2016). Business analytics for managers: Taking business intelligence beyond reporting. John Wiley & Sons.

Lee, J. T. (2019). Book review: Designing and conducting mixed methods research. https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586719832223

Liu, F., Wu, S., Zhou, J., Fan, M., & Tian, F. (2026). Understanding spectator loyalty in the Chinese Super League. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, 1776215. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1776215

Matović, N., & Ovesni, K. (2023). Interaction of quantitative and qualitative methodology in mixed methods research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 26(1), 51–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2021.1964857

Mănescu, D. C. (2025). Big data analytics framework for decision-making in sports performance optimization. Data, 10(7), 116. https://doi.org/10.3390/data10070116

McKinsey Global Institute. (2021). The state of AI in 2021. https://www.mckinsey.com

Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric theory (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill. https://doi.org/10.1037/018882

Papadimitriou, S., & Virvou, M. (2025). Computer games for entertainment and education: A literature review and exploration on artificial intelligence integration. In Artificial intelligence–based games as novel holistic educational environments to teach 21st century skills (pp. 25–62). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-77464-5_2

Puce, L., Żmijewski, P., Cotellessa, F., Schenone, C., Ceylan, H. I., Bragazzi, N. L., & Trompetto, C. (2025). The role of artificial intelligence in sports training. Biology of Sport, 43(1), 355–367. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.152352

Queiroz-Ribeiro, F. D. F. M., Ferreira, C. A. A., Costa, M. D. S. S., Batista, R. C. G., & Costa, S. (2025). Emotional intelligence and decision making. Management (IJSM), 24(3), 1–43. https://doi.org/10.5585/2025.27859

Reddy, S. (2023). The role of data analytics in enhancing decision-making in sports management. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Machine Learning, 4(2), 9–16.

Salimi, M., & Nazarian, A. (2022). The effect of organisational agility as mediator in the relationship between knowledge management, competitive advantage, and innovation in sport organisations. International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies, 13(3), 231–256. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJKMS.2022.123712

Teece, D. J., Pisano, G., & Shuen, A. (1997). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 18(7), 509–533. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(199708)18:7

Tilley, J. (2025). Dogs as a gateway to the good life: Using thematic analysis to explore the mechanisms underpinning dog ownership and human well-being. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 22(1), 15–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2024.2364330

Van den Berg, L., Coetzee, B., & Mearns, M. (2020). Establishing competitive intelligence process elements in sport performance analysis and coaching. International Journal of Information Management, 52, 102071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102071

Vollero, A., Sardanelli, D., & Manoli, A. E. (2025). Exploring the influence of football fan tokens on engagement. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 60(4), 421–435. https://doi.org/10.1177/10949968241305642

Watkins, R., & Leigh, D. (Eds.). (2009). Handbook of improving performance in the workplace: The handbook of selecting and implementing performance interventions (Vol. 2). John Wiley & Sons.

Wilson, P. J., & Kiely, J. (2023). Developing decision-making expertise in professional sports staff. Sports Medicine–Open, 9(1), 100. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00629-w

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Sustainable Competitive Intelligence

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.